KB (rapper)

Last updated

KB
Birth nameKevin Elijah Burgess
Also known asKB, K to the Second Letter, Moreno Papi Loco, KB the Second
Born (1988-07-21) July 21, 1988 (age 36)
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Genres Christian hip hop
OccupationRapper
Years active2006–present
Labels Reach, Native North, Essential Sound
Website whoiskb.com

Kevin Elijah Burgess (born July 21, 1988), better known by his stage name KB, is an American Christian hip hop artist and music executive from St. Petersburg, Florida. He is the leader of the hip-hop group HGA (His Glory Alone). Burgess signed a solo artist contract with Reach Records in 2010. The label has released several projects, including the Who Is KB? mixtape in 2011, Weight & Glory , on July 17, 2012, 100 EP on March 4, 2014, Tomorrow We Live on April 21, 2015, and Today We Rebel on October 20, 2017. He is also a member of the label's collective formerly 116 clique shortened to 116.

Contents

He left Reach Records in 2020 and signed with Essential Sound, releasing his fourth studio album, His Glory Alone.

Biography

Early life

Kevin Elijah Burgess was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 21, 1988, [1] into a military family. [2] Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Southern Illinois. When he was eight years old, his parents divorced, and he moved back with his mother to the south side of St. Petersburg, which, according to Burgess, is "probably one of the worst areas in the state." [2] Although he excelled at a good school and was offered a path to college through a program at St. Petersburg Collegiate High School, he struggled with severe depression. He experimented with various drugs in an attempt to find relief, [2] which negatively affected his performance at school and led him into a downward spiral, even contemplating suicide. [2] [3]

Formation of HGA

After high school, Burgess enrolled in Bible college, where he befriended a group of Christian rappers. They formed a hip-hop group called HGA, short for His Glory Alone. [2] [3] HGA eventually caught the interest of Lecrae, Ben Washer, and DJ Official, [3] and was featured alongside Tedashii on the track "Go" from DJ Official's album Intermission. [4] [5] Burgess was invited onto the Acquire the Fire tour by Lecrae and was asked to join the Reach Records team just a few months later. [3]

The Reach Records Years

Burgess signed with Reach Records in 2010 and appeared that year on Lecrae's album Rehab . [6] His mixtape Who Is KB? followed a year later, along with appearances with PRo and Tedashii. [6] [7] [8] [9] Who Is KB? garnered 30,000 downloads by the following year. [6] His first single, "Hello," featuring Suzy Rock, was released in October 2011. [10] In January 2012, he released a second single, "Zone Out," featuring Chris Lee Cobbins. [11] Burgess also appeared with Andy Mineo on Trip Lee's album The Good Life . [6] In June 2012, he released a third single, "Go Off," featuring Tedashii and Andy Mineo. [12] Burgess's debut album, Weight & Glory, was released a month later. [13] [14]

On May 30, 2013, Reach Records announced a four-part project entitled 1st and 16th. This project involved Burgess releasing a new song on the first and sixteenth of June and July. On June 1, Part 1, "HCB Freestyle," was released. [15] The songs "Ride" and "Be All Right" were also part of the 1st and 16th project.

On February 10, 2014, KB announced his new project, an EP titled 100, which was released on March 4, 2014. [16] Burgess also appeared in Family Force 5's music video for the song "BZRK," released on May 23, 2014, as a featured artist. [17]

On February 3, 2015, KB announced on social media his second studio album, Tomorrow We Live, including the cover and release date, which was set for April 21, 2015. [18] The first single from the album, "Sideways," featuring Lecrae, was released on February 23, 2015. [19] The second single, "Crowns & Thorns (Oceans)," was released on March 10, 2015. [20]

On October 20, 2017, KB released his third studio album, Today We Rebel. [21] The first single from the album, "Tempo," was released a year prior to the album's release. [22] The second single, "Monster," featuring Aha Gazelle, was released on September 15, 2017. [23]

The Essential Sound Years

In 2020, he announced that he would not be renewing his contract with Reach Records and instead signed with Essential Sound, a Sony Music imprint. [24]

KB released three singles—"Armies," "10K," and "Lil Boy"—from his fourth studio album, His Glory Alone. The album was released on September 25, 2020. [25]

On August 11, 2023, KB released his fifth studio album, His Glory Alone II. The album was preceded by five singles: "King Jesus" with nobigdyl., "Graves" with Brandon Lake, "EZ," "Glory 2 Glory," and "Danza." It was followed by a deluxe edition featuring five new tracks.

Personal life

Burgess is married to his wife, Michelle, and they have three children. [26] [27] [28]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleChart positions
US
[29] 		US
Gospel
[30] 		US
Christ.
[31] 		US
Indie
[32] 		US
Rap
[33]
2012 Weight & Glory
  • Released: July 17, 2012
  • Label: Reach
341194
2015 Tomorrow We Live
  • Released: April 21, 2015
  • Label: Reach
18—124
2017 Today We Rebel
  • Released: October 20, 2017 [34]
  • Label: Reach
91—18—
2020His Glory Alone
  • Released: September 25, 2020
  • Label: Essential Sound
——4——
2023His Glory Alone II——4——
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Note: Beginning in 2015, Billboard rendered most hip hop/rap albums ineligible for the Gospel charts [35]

Collaboration albums

YearTitleChart positions
U.S. GospelU.S. Christ.
2011Man Up
(with 116 Clique)
  • Fourth studio album
  • Released: September 28, 2011
  • Label: Reach
——
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EPs

YearTitleChart positions
US US Gospel US Christ. US Ind. US Rap
2014 100
  • 1st EP
  • Released: March 4, 2014
  • Label: Reach
221134
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

YearTitle
2011Who Is KB?
  • 1st mixtape
  • Released: March 22, 2011
  • Label: Reach

Multimedia series

YearTitlePublisher
20131st & 16thReach

Singles

As lead artist

YearTitleChart positionsAlbum
US
Christ. [36] 		US
Gospel [36]
2011"Hello" (featuring Suzy Rock)——Weight & Glory
2012"Zone Out" (featuring Chris Lee Cobbins)——
"Go Off" (featuring Tedashii & Andy Mineo)——
2014"100" (featuring Andy Mineo)3118100
2015"Sideways" (featuring Lecrae)29—Tomorrow We Live
"Crowns & Thorns (Oceans)"31—
"Ima Just Do It" (featuring Bubba Watson)37—
2016"Tempo"48—Today We Rebel
2017"HomeTeam" (featuring Lecrae)——non-album single
"Monster" (featuring Aha Gazelle)39—Today We Rebel
2018"No Chains"30—non-album single
"Long Live the Champion" (featuring Yariel and GabrielRodriguezEMC)——
"Die Rich" (featuring Ray Emmanuel)——
2019"DNOU2" [37] ——
"Hold Me Back"29—
"Lincoln"43—
2020"Armies"28—His Glory Alone
"10K"30—
"Lil Boy"41—
2021"Worship In The Moshpit"non-album single
2022"King Jesus" (featuring nobigdyl.)His Glory Alone II
"Graves"33—
2023"EZ"31—
"Glory 2 Glory"
"Danza" (featuring Nico Eme, Cardec Drums.)
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Note: Beginning in 2015, Billboard rendered most hip hop/rap songs ineligible for the Gospel charts
YearTitleChart PositionsAlbum
Hot

Christian

Songs

2011"116"
(PRo featuring KB)		non-album single
2013"Passing"
(Json featuring Serge and KB)		 Braille
2013"All In"
(Flame featuring KB)		 Royal Flush
2014"BZRK"

(Family Force 5 featuring KB)

34Time Stand Still
2015"Northern Sky"
(Capital Kings feat. KB)		 II
2017"O God Forgive Us"
(For King & Country featuring KB)		14 Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
2021"Can't Tell It All (Remix)"
(Hulvey feat. KB & Lecrae )		 Coma|
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

YearTitleChart positions Certifications Album
US Christ.
[36] 		US Gospel
[36]
2012"Church Clap" (featuring Lecrae)——Weight & Glory
2013"The Saints" (Andy Mineo featuring KB & Trip Lee)4418 Heroes for Sale
2014"Paganini" (Andy Mineo featuring KB & Canon)4621 Never Land
"Undefeated" (featuring Derek Minor)3921100
"Earthquake" (Tedashii featuring Dimitri McDowell & KB)—22 Below Paradise (Deluxe Edition)
2015"I Believe" (featuring Mattie)38—Tomorrow We Live
2017"DNOU"45—Today We Rebel
"Not Today Satan" (featuring Andy Mineo)32—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

TitleYearOther performer(s)Album
"Used to Do It Too"2010 Lecrae Rehab
"Full Court Mess"2011 Pro Dying to Live
"Young" Andy Mineo Formerly Known
"You Know What it Is" Tedashii, PK Blacklight
"One Sixteen"2012 Trip Lee, Andy Mineo The Good Life
"Fuego"Lecrae, Suzy Rock Gravity (iTunes edition)
"The Saints Remix"Black Knight, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee#ItsTheBlackKnight Beat Tape
"King of the World"2014 Flame, V.Rose, Mike Real, Nico WellsJesus or Nothing
"For Those Who Can't Speak" Tenth Avenue North, Derek Minor Cathedrals
"I Wouldn't Know"2016Lecrae Church Clothes 3
"Prove It"Crowder American Prodigal
"Back Soon"20191K Phew, Parris Chariz What's Understood
"Blessed"JStu, Hyper FentonSummer's Back

Music videos

As lead artist

TitleYearDirectorViews
"Zone Out" (featuring Chris Lee Cobbins) [39] 2012—3.1M
"HCB Freestyle" [40] 2013Will Thomas576K
"Heart Song" (featuring Jasmine Leshea) [41] —610K
"100" (featuring Andy Mineo) [42] 2014Squint5.9M
"Kamikaze" (featuring Prisca) [43] —1.3M
"Sideways" (featuring Lecrae) [44] 2015Kyle Dettman8.7M
"Drowning" [45] 2016Sam Brave2M
"Tempo" [46] —2.6M
"DNOU" [47] 2017Sam Brave1.7M
"Not Today Satan" (featuring Andy Mineo) [48] 2018Nathan Corrona3.2M
"No Chains" [49] —16M
"Long Live The Champions" (featuring Yariel, GabrielRodriguezEMC) [50] Juan Garcia9.1M
"Die Rich" (featuring Ray Emmanuel) [51] —1.8M
"Hold Me Back" [52] 2019—5.2M
"10k" [53] 2020Juan Garcia10M
"Lil Boy" [54] —1.3M
"Dark Skin" [55] 2021—198K
"Libre" (featuring Tommy Royale) [56] —1.8M
"Masterpiece" [57] —1M
"This Is Life" [58] —1.1M
"Worship In The Moshpit" [59] —1.4M
"So Tired" [60] —554K
"King Jesus" (featuring nobigdyl) [61] 2022—3.7M
"Graves" (featuring Brandon Lake) [62] Joan Garcia1.9M
"Graves - Acoustic" (featuring Brandon Lake) [63] —523K
"EZ" [64] 2023—1M
"Glory 2 Glory" [65] —1.9M
"Danza" (featuring Nico Eme, Cardec Drums) [66] —2.2M
"Miracles" (featuring Lecrae) [67] —3.4M
"It Ain't Safe" [68] 2024—328K
"Friends" (featuring Ty Brasel) [69] —82K
TitleYearDirector
"Young" (Andy Mineo featuring KB)2012Kyle Dettman
"One Sixteen" (Trip Lee featuring KB and Andy Mineo)2012—
"BZRK" [17] (Family Force 5 featuring KB)2014Ryan Hamblin

References

  1. ↑ KB official Twitter account (July 21, 2014). "Amazing birthday by way of my lovely wife!". Twitter. Retrieved February 8, 2015.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Reach Records (July 6, 2012). "KB – Weight & Glory Behind the Music and More (@kb_hga @reachrecords)" (Video/Web). Retrieved July 23, 2012– via YouTube.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Reach Records. "KB". Reach Records Official Website. Reach Records. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Go – Tedashii" (Web). Billboard . Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Entermission". AllMusic . Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Rogers and Cowan PR (July 17, 2012). "Reach Records' latest hip hop Artist KB, Makes July 17th Debut Release of 'Weight & Glory'". Breathecast. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ "PRo "116" feat. KB". Rapzilla . January 25, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  8. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "Blacklight". AllMusic . Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  9. ↑ "PRo 'Dying To Live' Tracklisting". Rapzilla . August 2, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  10. ↑ "KB "Hello" feat. Suzy Rock". Rapzilla . October 28, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ "KB 'Zone Out' feat. Chris Lee". Rapzilla . January 24, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  12. ↑ "KB 'Go Off' ft. Andy Mineo & Tedashii". Rapzilla . June 7, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ Ham, Robert (July 17, 2012). "KB: Weight & Glory". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  14. ↑ Peterson, Aaron (July 3, 2012). "KB | Weight & Glory". The Christian Manifesto. Archived from the original (Web) on January 5, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Reach Records". Reach Records. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Reach Records". Reach Records. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  17. 1 2 "Family Force 5 – BZRK [feat. KB] (Official Music Video)". May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014– via YouTube.
  18. ↑ Daniels, David (February 3, 2015). "KB reveals new 2015 album title, cover and release date". Rapzilla. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  19. ↑ Daniels, David (February 23, 2015). "Lyric Video: KB – Sideways feat. Lecrae". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Rapper KB Says 'Tomorrow We Live' was Inspired by African 'Motherland'; Album Focuses on Emotions of a Day [VIDEO INTERVIEW]". www.breathecast.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Today We Rebel by KB on Apple Music". iTunes Store. October 20, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Tempo – Single by KB on Apple Music". iTunes Store. August 5, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  23. ↑ Solis, Steven (September 15, 2017). "Music: KB – Monster ft. Aha Gazelle" . Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  24. ↑ "KB Inks Deal with Sony Imprint – Essential Sound; New Album 2020". Rapzilla. April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  25. ↑ "His Glory Alone by KB on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  26. ↑ Sahms, Jacob (March 4, 2019). "KB Knows the Power of the Gospel". Dove.com . Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  27. ↑ KB (January 18, 2020). "Her name is Nala. And she has my heart forever. Welcome, my beautiful daughter". Twitter . Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Bay area man becomes top Christian hip hop artist". baynews9.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  29. ↑ "KB Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  30. ↑ "KB Chart History: Gospel Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  31. ↑ "KB Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  32. ↑ "KB Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  33. ↑ "KB Chart History: Rap Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  34. ↑ "KB Reveals 'Today We Rebel' Cover & Release Date with Partial Tracklist". Rapzilla. September 14, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  35. ↑ Shellnutt, Kate (February 15, 2015). "Why Grammy Winner Lecrae Will Never Dominate the Gospel Charts Again". Christianity Today . Christianity Today International. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  36. 1 2 3 4 "KB – Chart history". Billboard .
  37. ↑ Sarachik, Justin (April 5, 2019), "KB – DNOU2", Rapzilla , retrieved June 3, 2019
  38. ↑ "American single certifications – KB – Church Clap". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  39. ↑ "KB - Zone Out ft. Chris Lee (@kb_hga @reachrecords)" . Retrieved January 5, 2012– via YouTube.
  40. ↑ "KB - HCB Freestyle (@kb_hga @reachrecords)". June 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013– via YouTube.
  41. ↑ "KB - Heart Song ft. Jasmine Le'Shea (@Kb_hga @reachrecords)". June 16, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013– via YouTube.
  42. ↑ "KB - 100 ft. Andy Mineo - OFFICIAL VIDEO (@kb_hga @reachrecords)". February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014– via YouTube.
  43. ↑ "KB & Prisca – Kamikaze (@KB_HGA @reachrecords)". July 31, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015– via YouTube.
  44. ↑ "KB - Sideways ft. Lecrae (@ReachRecords @KB_HGA)". April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015– via YouTube.
  45. ↑ "KB - Drowning". June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016– via YouTube.
  46. ↑ "KB - Tempo (@KB_HGA @ReachRecords)". July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016– via YouTube.
  47. ↑ "KB - DNOU Official Music Video". October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017– via YouTube.
  48. ↑ "KB – Not Today Satan feat. Andy Mineo". March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018– via YouTube.
  49. ↑ "KB - No Chains". April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018– via YouTube.
  50. ↑ "KB - Long Live the Champion feat. Yariel, GabrielRodriguezEMC (Official Music Video)". July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018– via YouTube.
  51. ↑ "KB - Die Rich feat. Ray Emmanuel (Official Visual)". November 27, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018– via YouTube.
  52. ↑ "KB - Hold Me Back (Official Music Video)". May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019– via YouTube.
  53. ↑ "KB - 10k (Official Music Video)". July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020– via YouTube.
  54. ↑ "KB - Lil Boy (Official Music Video)". September 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020– via YouTube.
  55. ↑ "KB - Dark Skin (Official Lyric Video) ft. Black Violin". July 9, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021– via YouTube.
  56. ↑ "KB - Libre (Official Lyric Video) ft. Tommy Royale". February 25, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021– via YouTube.
  57. ↑ "KB - Masterpiece (Official Music Video)". April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021– via YouTube.
  58. ↑ "KB - This Is Life (Official Lyric Video)". June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021– via YouTube.
  59. ↑ "KB - Worship in the Moshpit (Official Music Video)". March 19, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021– via YouTube.
  60. ↑ "KB - So Tired (Official Music Video)". November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021– via YouTube.
  61. ↑ "KB, nobigdyl - King Jesus (Official Music Video". February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022– via YouTube.
  62. ↑ "KB, Brandon Lake - Graves (Official Music Video)". October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022– via YouTube.
  63. ↑ "KB x Brandon Lake - Graves (Official Acoustic Video)". October 27, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022– via YouTube.
  64. ↑ "KB - EZ (Official Music Video)". December 2, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023– via YouTube.
  65. ↑ "KB - Glory 2 Glory (Visualizer)". July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023– via YouTube.
  66. ↑ "KB, Niko Eme, Cardec Drums - Danza (Official Music Video)". July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023– via YouTube.
  67. ↑ "KB, Lecrae - Miracles (Official Music Video)". August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023– via YouTube.
  68. ↑ "KB - It Ain't Safe (Music Video)". February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024– via YouTube.
  69. ↑ "KB - KB, Ty Brasel - Friends (Music Video)". August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024– via YouTube.
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